Aham Brahmasmi – I am not this body. It’s such a simple truth. Understanding this fully is not so simple.
Eternal truths don’t change. Truth is truth. Facts are facts. We humans, on the other hand, tend to relativize almost everything!
The dynamics of creation are exquisite in their synergy of purpose. Finding the path to freedom and salvation and remaining on that path may sound simple, but we know differently from firsthand experience.
So, how is it that such a sublimely simple statement li
The reality these days is that our centres for our communities are fully capacitated. Since covid’s demise, we burst at the seams. Yesterday’s report on the second meeting in Whitley, Ontario, after a grandiose opening in a rented space, the church management remarked, “You are attracting more people than we are.”
Two hundred people packed the facility.
In Brampton, where we own a building, the attendance is full. Nanda Maharaja Das, one of the coordinators, gets on the mic to encour
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 7: The Science of God Chapter 14: Ideal Family Life
Summary
Maharaja Yudhisthira inquired from Narada Muni: O my lord, O great sage, kindly explain how we who are staying at home without knowledge of the goal of life may also easily attain liberation, according to the instructions of the Vedas.
Narada Muni replied: My dear King, those who stay at home as householders must act to earn their livelihood, and instead of trying to enjoy the results of their work themselves,
So today is Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day – Nityananda Trayodasi therefore we will start our class with a verse from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 1.7
sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya- nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu
TRANSLATION: May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Sesa Naga and the Visnus who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the portio
The Supreme Mercy of The two Lords
In Vedanta Sutra there is a famous – “anandamyo bhyasat”. This sloka explains the constitutional position of every living being. Everyone is looking for pleasure. The soul and it’s natural condition is Sachidananda, eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, full of ecstasy. Therefore the heart of every living being is constantly seeking beauty, charm, and ecstasy. Therefore the Lord descends into this world to distribute prema bhakti divine love. Because –
Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed, “If you are actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the mercy of Nityānanda.” Inspired by this instruction, the Mayapur Master Plan Office is delighted to introduce the Virtual Pilgrimage to Ekacakrā Dhāma, the sacred birthplace of Lord Nityānanda. This initiative allows devotees around the world to explore holy places, offer prayers and connect with the boundless mercy of Lord Nityānanda at their own time and pace, througho
The Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja book team, made up of Ananda Tirtha Das, Praghosa Das, Satya Medha Gauranga Das, and Kaisori Devi Dasi, has issued a call for submissions for the 2025 Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja book.
The Team announced that this year all submissions are due by April 2, 2025 by emailing it to vphomages@iskcon.net.
Who may submit a homage?
a) Governing Body Commissioners
b) GBC Emeriti
c) ISKCON Sannyasis
d) Authorized representatives of ISKCON temples, preaching centers, farms, s
Framed on the wall next to Govinda’s Dining Hall are two statements about the Hare Krishna Movement. Here they are:
“The Hare Krishna movement is but the most recent phase of an ancient tradition of religious piety known in India as Vaishnavism. The devotees in the Hare Krishna temple live a full and active life of study, prayer, singing, and day to day management of the temple’s activities. Many are also active in a variety of more practical tasks such as the publishing and sale of book
The TOVP Team is pleased to provide the schedule for the historic Grand Opening of the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum on February 18, 2025. All devotees are invited to attend this auspicious occasion glorifying ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada either personally or online on Mayapur TV or the TOVP YouTube Channel.
The museum will be developed in three phases: Phase 1 will be 1000 sq. ft., Phase 2 will expand to 6000 sq. ft., and in its fully deve
ISKCON Melbourne released a video of Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Swami’s presentation to a select audience at the Parliament in Victoria on February 6, 2025.
The event was organized in cooperation with Nina Taylor, a member of the Australian Labor Party, and other members of Parliament. Taylor was elected to the Legislative Assembly in November 2022 and serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for Education.
During her brief remarks before SB Keshava Swami’s talk, she said, “This special event will hig
My good friend from Montreal, Anubhava, who managed our ashram temple for 7 years in Montreal, came for a breath, a break, and a change for four days. There was a problem with the train midway through, but eventually, all worked out. Actually, it was myself who suggested he give himself a little vacation. He took up the suggestion.
Since the time of his arrival, I dined with him and talked all about the marvellous things happening at the temple in Toronto with books being distributed, ce
atmaupamyena sarvatra
samam pasyati yo ‘rjuna
sukham va yadi va duhkham
sa yogi paramo matah
TRANSLATION
He is a perfect yogi who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna!
PURPORT
One who is Krsna conscious is a perfect yogi; he is aware of everyone’s happiness and distress by dint of his own personal experience. The cause of the distress of a living entity is forgetfulness of his relationship with God. And the cau
Our consciousness is a very important factor. The most important factor in anything we do is our consciousness. And if we have material consciousness we will suffer, for sure. And if we have vaisnava consciousness we will be able to assimilate and digest different situations.
It may be one of those situations like walking through fire; and when you come out the other side you’ll be a new person. Many times with think if we walk through fire we will just get burned to ashes. And sometimes Krishn
A winning team receives its prizes.
On January 19th, ISKCON Detroit – The Devasadana Mandir hosted the 7th annual Bhagavad Gita Sloka Recitation Competition. This program provides children, ages 4-18, with an opportunity to memorize verses and learn about the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Depending on the age group, they were assigned different amounts of verses from the 17th chapter of the Bhagavad-gita. The 17th chapter holds particular importance because it speaks of the types of
On February 22nd-23rd, 2025, Mandakini Devi Dasi, the author of the children’s book Nimai’s Adventures, will offer a virtual camp for children online. Mandakini Publications’ free, interactive camp is designed to immerse young hearts in the extraordinary life and teachings of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
This two-day camp promises to be a blend of fun, learning, and devotion. Activities include storytelling sessions that dive into the enchanting pastimes of Lord Chaitanya, crafts and hands-on acti
Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.
He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.
He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem,
I delivered the Bhagavatam class today, and we spoke about life in the material world with its nightmares and sweet dreams, the combination. That sentence on its own sounded impactful to the group. When I said the phrase “sweet dreams,” my mind raced to the time I met Annie Lennox when she visited our temple at 243 in the early 80s. She’s the singer behind the song “Sweet Dreams” which is a classic pop piece. I recall how she was so nice. I made some samosas for her and her band, The Eury
Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
From “Siksastakam”, Song 4, in Gitavali:
“In whatever birth I take, wherever my karma leads me, let me sing the glories of Your holy name birth after birth.”
“In danger or success, good fortune or disaster, let me remain in equipoise. And let my affection for You increase day by day by the influence of the holy name.”
From “Worship of Hari Must Begin from Childhood” in Prabandhavali:
“Because they cannot see God with their material eyes, they think that there is no such th
“It occurred to me that it’s possible to be connected to Lord Caitanya’s movement, which is the topmost theology, and practice love of God, yet practice it poorly. Then we would find vaidhi-bhakti dry, chant with offenses, not love the Vaishnavas, not feel real devotion. It’s possible. It’s possible a Christian or even a Mayavadi might have more taste and devotion in his meditation than we do. That doesn’t prove that Buddhism or Christianity or impersonalism are better than Krishna consciousnes
From “The Aims of Life” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 3 (May/June 2023):
“Srila Prabhupada, in describing the aim of life with both common sense and scriptural citations, included the quest for happiness as a suitable goal. Yes, he would say, we seek happiness above all else, but our attempts to achieve it through material pursuits must ultimately fail. True and lasting happiness can be found only though self-realization. Our aim in life, therefore, should be self-realization, which becomes
